Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877

The Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 (40 & 41 Vict c 57) was a significant piece of legislation that restructured the court system in Ireland, mirroring similar reforms implemented in England and Wales. It aimed to fuse the previously separate courts of common law and equity into a single, unified High Court of Justice and to establish a Court of Appeal.

The Act consolidated various existing courts, including the Court of Queen's Bench, the Court of Common Pleas, the Court of Exchequer, the Court of Chancery, the Court of Probate, the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Court, and the High Court of Admiralty. These courts were then consolidated into a single High Court of Justice, divided into several divisions.

A new Court of Appeal was created to hear appeals from the High Court. This streamlined the appellate process and aimed to reduce delays and costs associated with litigation.

The Act also introduced reforms to legal procedure and practice, with the intention of simplifying and modernizing the administration of justice. It brought Irish legal processes closer in line with the procedural reforms implemented by the Judicature Acts in England and Wales.

While the Act addressed numerous aspects of judicial administration, its central aim was to fuse law and equity, ensuring that all divisions of the High Court could administer both legal and equitable remedies. This was a major step in simplifying legal processes and ensuring that justice could be done without requiring multiple court actions. The Act, though subsequently amended and superseded, formed a cornerstone of the Irish legal system for many years.